It was good to see many of you last night at the senior school event led by Mrs Urquhart on support for examinations and coursework. The presentation will go on the website next week and parents will be emailed a direct link. This event covered the following areas:

– An overview on how to support at home
– Information on Scholar, an online support tool from Heriot Watt University that can add a full grade to those students who use it regularly. The session also shared a parent password for the site
– Information on Alternative Assessment Arrangements for those who qualify for this extra support
– A brief presentation form our Career’s Officer, Euan Kelman
– Details of Faculty assessment requirements, and an update on the changes to National 5 unit assessments this session

This week also saw the final two S1 groups experience Benmore. I was there from Monday-Wednesday and was very impressed by the group. They rose to every challenge and worked well together. Feedback from the centre on the S1 was very complimentary and I want to share that with you as parents as they were a real credit to you. Once again the trip confirmed the very great value in having senior team members, guidance staff and S1 tutors going away with their own group as this really enables us to know our students. I also want to acknowledge the superb support offered by our S6 ambassadors. They were a great help and it was good to get a chance to know them better too, and the insights they can offer on the school. They are keen to continue to offer ways of supporting younger students and we will be planning this next week.

Trips this week involved STEM, with a group of senior girls going to the MonsterConfidence event. Please see details below from Ms Hickinson, who leads on STEM.

About the Stemettes

Stemettes is a non-profit social enterprise. We work to inspire, encourage and support young women into
STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths). 21% of those working in STEM-related roles across
the UK are women; 7% of engineers are women and 17% of those working in technology are women.
Stemette’s goal is to promote science and engage more girls, aged 5-21, by running workshops, panels,
mentoring schemes, and shadow days which are free, fun-filled and food-filled.About Monster
Monster is a leading provider of online careers which connects people to the best job opportunities. In
partnership with Monster, Stemettes introduces MonsterConfidence one-day events in five cities: Edinburgh,
Southampton, London, Dublin & Sheffield. At these events girls will have an opportunity to get interview
practice; hear inspirational talks; meet people from the industry of their interest; and attend career
workshops. MonsterConfidence is a huge boost for girls who want to engage themselves with STEM or
explore the options available.Workshops
Girls will hear inspirational keynotes & lightning talks, attend workshops curated & run by jobsite Monster
and be speed mentored. They will also receive ‘aftercare’ and career support after the event via our OtotheB
mobile app.

On Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th October the Edinburgh Film Festival was showing two Spanish films. Pupils from S3 to S6 who study Spanish were involved in this exciting event.
On the 1st day the S3 class went to see ‘Zipi y Zapi y la isla del Capitan’.
In this film, mischievous twins Zip and Zap have been sent on a business trip with their parents to a remote island. However they get lost en route and end up staying the night with the eccentric Miss Pam in her Victorian mansion for lost children. The next morning, their parents are nowhere to be found. Zip and Zap now have to unveil the island’s mysterious secret and find their mum and dad. Evoking the classic stories of J.M. Barrie and Jules Verne, the latest chapter in the Zip and Zap saga is equal parts comic book fun and mysterious adventure.

The next day our S4/5&6 Spanish classes went to see ‘100 metros’.
The film is an uplifting drama inspired by the amazing true story of Ramon Arroyo, a father of two who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and told that he will never be able to run one hundred metres. Ignoring the warning, and after overcoming a fit of depression, he trains hard to participate in Ironman, one of the most difficult triathlon competitions in the world. However, this does not scare Ramon: he is determined to prove to the world that surrender is never an option!

Following the film, all classes went to Café Andaluz on George Street where they got to practise their Spanish language skills over a tapas lunch. They ordered their own food in Spanish and even asked for the bill! This will come in handy on their next family trip to Spain.
The students were enthusiastic, participated fully in Spanish and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Accompanying staff were very proud of how every student represented Craigmount and themselves.

Mr McPake has also informed me of more debating success. Please see his report below:

I am delighted to inform you that the success of our S4-S3 debating team continues. Last Saturday, Mr Gaughan took them down to Newcastle to compete in the Northern Junior Debating Championship. In a UK-wide competition consisting of 48 teams, we finished 2nd. St. Paul’s School for Girls, from London, won the competition.

Special thanks should go to Johnny Gaughan and ex-student Catherine Cranston. As a debating coach, I am used to the demands and rigours, but it is incredibly generous of them to spend 14 hours of their Saturday with the team!

For S1 parents in particular, please note that the recently-issued tracking reports are designed to give a brief progress-check. Later in the year there will be a full report, and before then, a chance to meet staff for a detailed conversation on progress. Please also let us know of any support you might need at these events so that we can offer this. For example, any parental support related to disability needs, or translation services.

I look forward to meeting many of you at the Faculty Awards event on Wednesday evening. I am very grateful for the staff team lead by Mr Gray (CL Social Subjects) in planning this event.